Are you feeling the crunch of the upper hen feed costs? As we speak I need to share with you 28 simple methods to economize on hen feed!
28 Simple Methods to Save Cash on Rooster Feed
In principle, elevating yard chickens feels like a terrific thought. Fresh eggs, contemporary meat, nothing can substitute these good issues! It’s only a pure step in homestead living proper?
Sadly, the place elevating hens was once more economical then shopping for eggs and meat from the shop, hen feed costs have gone up so excessive that it’s getting more durable to justify it.
Over time, we’ve discovered many alternative methods to economize on hen feed and these days we’ve been doing extra issues to assist convey down hen feed costs round our homestead. Hopefully a few of these ideas will provide help to!
1. Let your chickens be free vary.
Let your chickens be free vary you probably have the house and are ready. Except you reside in a really lush, fertile space (not the drought stricken midwest!) you’ll nonetheless should complement with feed, however your chickens might be happier and more healthy when they’re allowed to roam free.
Our chickens love scooping up grasshoppers and different bugs and vegetation as they wander across the yard. Geese particularly love being free vary since they like to eat the weeds across the yard, which is okay with me!
Free vary chickens produce eggs with a better dietary worth and fewer ldl cholesterol. To not point out it’s nice for his or her general happiness. We’ve discovered that in the summertime, our chickens hardly eat any feed in any respect. We aren’t capable of free vary within the winter which is after we complement with feed.
2. Store round before you purchase.
Simply because the native feed retailer down the highway carries hen feed, it doesn’t imply that it’s the very best deal. One would possibly argue that we must always follow the closest shops proper now with the worth of fuel however we want to drive to the shop additional away and replenish whereas we’re there to make it price our whereas.
Look ahead to chain feed shops’ gross sales to get a fair higher deal. It’s normally a good suggestion to replenish on feed within the spring when the shops convey all the child chicks in as a result of they’ve nice gross sales! Retailer all bulk hen feed in a cool, dry place away from pests.
3. Feed Chickens All Your Scraps
Our chickens are completely spoiled. Not solely are they free vary and have the run of our 20 acres on the homeplace aspect of our land, additionally they get all types of kitchen scraps from the home!
Fruit and vegetable peelings, stale bread, previous meals from the pantry or fridge….they adore it all. One other factor they like to eat within the fall is the previous backyard vegetation. Pull them out of the backyard and let the chickens have dessert! I make it some extent to take out my scrap bucket every day for my chickens.
4. Strive totally different sorts of feed.
We used to feed our chickens the great finer grain hen feed however then converted to pellets. The chickens didn’t prefer it at first however they acquired over it fairly quick. 😉
With the pellets there may be much less waste as a result of they don’t fling the feed everywhere in the floor. You may at all times mix this methodology with the fermented meals methodology under in case your flock actually doesn’t just like the pellets.
5. Examine for domestically milled feed.
In case you have an area mill on the town you would possibly be capable of buy grains and feeds cheaper than from the chain shops.
They can combine up your hen feed for you otherwise you could possibly ask them for a particular combine you probably have a request of what you’d wish to go within the feed. Most mills solely promote feed in bulk so preserve this in thoughts while you make the decision.
6. Sprout Grains & Veggies
Identical to you take pleasure in sprouts on a salad, you can even make sprouts in your chickens! Chickens can eat nearly any type of sprouts which you can. You possibly can sprout seeds proper in your kitchen counter which is a good choice for these with small yard flocks. Get a Kitchen Sprouter to develop a number of varieties directly.
7. Make a Rooster Backyard
A hen backyard consists of some issues. First, the hen backyard could be full of vegetation that have a tendency to draw a number of bugs. If that is the way you create your hen backyard, you’ll be able to let your birds in and provides them a full bug buffet.
You may as well plant a backyard of vegetables and fruit simply in your chickens. Some greens or fruits you could possibly develop in your hen backyard may very well be; cabbage, lettuce, melons, pumpkins, squash, or the rest a hen would like to peck and luxuriate in.
8. Purchase Breeds That Eat Much less Feed
There are specific breeds of chickens that may eat much less and nonetheless produce quantity of eggs. Most breeds that eat much less are offered for business use however there are nonetheless a number of yard breeds which you can get that may have feed to egg ratio. If you’re planning forward, you would possibly need to contemplate these birds:
- White Leghorns
- Purple Intercourse Hyperlinks
- Rhode Island Reds
- Isa Browns
9. Increase Mealworms or Worms
Should you can elevate mealworms or any type of worms in your homestead, these could be a nice protein complement in your chickens. You may get a mealworm growing kit on Amazon.
Opposite to what it says on the egg cartons on the retailer, chickens should not vegetarians they usually take pleasure in meat and protein sources. They’ll fortunately eat mice, rats, lizards, or different small rodents if they will. It’s additionally alright to feed your chickens meat scraps (not hen meat scraps!) and fishmeal.
10. Develop Sunflowers
Chickens love sunflower seeds! If you’ll be able to develop sunflowers the place you reside or have entry to somebody that may have additional sunflower seeds of their fields, this could be a good alternative to economize on hen feed prices.
Feed sunflower seeds as a hearty treats together with their meals.
11. Fodder
Fodder might be one in all my favourite methods to avoid wasting on my feed invoice. Not just for poultry however different livestock as nicely.
I’ve a full guide on growing fodder right here.
12. Fermented Feed
Fermented feed may be very simple to do and could be a good way to get “additional” feed from what you have already got, make chickens eat pellets or crumble that they don’t usually like, and to spice up diet and digestion.
To ferment your hen feed, place the feed in a bucket or jar and canopy it with water. I like including slightly apple cider vinegar to get the fermentation going. Depart it undisturbed for about 3 days. After this time, you may even see some effervescent on the floor…that is only a signal that good fermentation is occurring! Should you preserve a number of jars going of this always, you’ll have feed for every day.
Fermented feed is a good supply of probiotics in your flock.
13. Make the most of Your Compost Pile
Chickens can’t solely achieve additional meals and bugs out of your compost pile, however they will even add to the compost and assist decompose it.
Should you depart your chickens in an space the place they’ve entry to your compost pile, they’ll fortunately eat the scraps that you simply depart on it. They will even dig bugs out of manure. Whereas doing this, they’ll depart their very own manure and scratch the pile round for you. This implies much less turning be just right for you and the addition of extra manure. It’s a win-win!
14. Hold Pests Out of Feed
You possibly can lose lots of hen feed for those who enable pests similar to mice to get into it. Attempt to retailer your hen feed in a big container (like a big rubbish can) with a lid in order that rodents can’t get into it.
Should you purchase bulk feed, attempt to put it someplace that gained’t let mice in. We preserve ours in a sealed delivery container.
15. Get Free Meals From Eating places
If you understand anybody that owns an area restaurant, grocery retailer, or different meals service institution, ask if they’ll preserve their kitchen scraps for you. You may additionally present a container for them to fill which you can come decide up when it’s full.
It is a nice strategy to get extra scraps in your compost bin or in your chickens totally free.
16. Develop Your Personal
In case you have sufficient house and assets, you could possibly at all times develop your individual hen feed. Should you can develop grains like wheat, barley, or corn, you would possibly develop sufficient to place collectively some or all of a wholesome, nutrient-dense feed.
17. Serve the Chickens Calcium You Already Have
Eggshells are supply of calcium however you don’t essentially need to educate your chickens to peck on eggs. No want to fret, grind up some dried egg shells and place them in a free feed space or combine them in with their different feed.
This gained’t provide help to lower your expenses on hen feed, however it may be a substitute for oyster shell which can nonetheless prevent cash together with your chickens. Listed here are extra tips about What to Do With Eggshells.
18. Maggots and Black Soldier Fly Larvae
This one would possibly make you slightly queasy however don’t fear, you don’t should “develop” these until you actually need to.
Chickens can glean the diet from nutrient dense maggots and black soldier fly larvae by being allowed to be within the pasture with cattle or different livestock. They’ll pull these bugs out of the manure as a complement to their feed. Not solely will they assist clear up your pasture by dispersing the “piles”, additionally, you will have much less flies.
19. Feed Cut price Produce
Should you don’t have a supply totally free scraps from a meals service place, you continue to would possibly be capable of discover discount produce. Ask round at a farmer’s market or at your native grocery retailer and see what they’ve that’s in lower than good situation. These leftovers could be nice for animal feed!
20. Make Positive Your Chickens Aren’t Losing Feed
I discussed above that we switched from crumble feed to pellets to get our chickens to cease losing feed, however what in case your chickens waste feed it doesn’t matter what?
Take into account solely feeding them at sure instances of the day and don’t allow them to free feed. This fashion they are going to be hungry when it’s supper time and will eat all the things they’re given. This additionally makes it simpler to portion and management the quantity of feed you give them each day.
21. Feed Leftover Milk Merchandise
In case you have any milking animals like cows or goats or for those who make your individual cheese, you’ll be able to at all times feed your chickens (and different animals) the milk merchandise that you simply aren’t going to make use of.
In case your chickens don’t need to drink the milk, you’ll be able to combine it in with their feed to make mush. You may as well make clabber. Milk or whey is a good way to get additional protein to your chickens and fill them up.
22. Make Positive Your Women Are Productive
In case you have chickens which can be too previous to be productive and are not laying, it’s time for them to both go to a brand new residence the place somebody desires them as a pet or time to go within the stew pot.
It’s laborious to maneuver by way of your hen flock and make these selections, however until you might be pleased with preserving chickens as pets, flocks will must be turned over each couple of years to maintain them energetic and productive.
23. Get Rid of the Rooster
Except you actually need a rooster and have broody hens, there isn’t a must preserve one. Roosters are giant and eat much more meals than a hen. Solely preserve your most efficient birds and let another person get up to the rooster each morning.
24. Portion Your Feed
Should you cease giving your chickens free entry to feed throughout the day, it is possible for you to to portion out your feed to guarantee that none of it goes to waste.
Totally grown chickens want about 1/4lb of hen feed per day. Measure this out the primary time, multiply how a lot you will have in your flock, and solely give them that quantity of feed every day.
25. Let Them Eat the Weeds
We might not like them however the chickens do! When you’re finished weeding your backyard, take the bucket of weeds and feed it to the chickens. They won’t solely eat the weeds, however the bugs on them as nicely!
Lamb’s quarter is a good plant that’s thought-about a weed that the majority of us having rising within the yard. Chickens will munch on this prefer it’s lettuce. Clover and dandelions are additionally good “weeds” that chickens like to eat.
26. Take into account the Holidays for Free Meals
After many holidays comes the chance to get a considerable amount of free meals in your chickens. After Halloween you could find free pumpkins, after Christmas or Easter you may need associates with leftover ham, turkey, or different vacation leftovers they’ve already eaten method an excessive amount of of.
Take into consideration the meals that come together with every vacation and ask round after the vacations to see what you’ll be able to collect in your girls.
27. Feed Brewers Grains
In case you have a brewery near residence, ask in the event that they ever give away their spent brewer’s grains. These are a terrific complement to your animal feed!
28. Promote Further Eggs or Chickens
The market is sizzling proper now for each eggs to eat and chickens to put the eggs. In my space, a laying hen will promote for $20-$25. One dozen eggs sells for round $4-$5. Should you can promote any of this stuff, use the cash to purchase feed for the remainder of your flock.
In case you have broody hens and a rooster, make the most of this and promote the chicks they produce. Or develop the chicks for a number of months and promote the pullets.
We personally promote additional eggs to pay for all of our hen feed. We by no means have a difficulty promoting additional eggs!
What About Home made Rooster Feed?
I really feel that home made hen feed is a extremely private choice. Should you really feel such as you need to feed your flock your individual hen feed and you’ve got the means to get these grains at an reasonably priced value, it is likely to be well worth the trouble of blending your particular combination.
Be sure that your feed incorporates the correct quantity of vitamins, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and protein in your flock or you’ll have points with them laying. It could be greatest to speak to your native farm vet earlier than mixing up your individual feed to just be sure you have the diet values right.
Personally we’ve opted to purchase hen feed and to complement as wanted as we would not have entry to low price grains like natural barley, wheat, oats, or corn.
What are some methods you lower your expenses on hen feed costs?
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Merissa has been running a blog about and dwelling the easy life since 2009 and has internationally revealed 2 books on the subject. You possibly can examine Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm and ministry on the About Page. You possibly can ship her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This publish on The right way to Save Cash on Rooster Feed was initially posted on Little Home Dwelling in August 2012. It has been up to date as of February 2023.
